- Email: [email protected]
A simple recording system for the direct observation technique
A SIMPLE RECORDING SYSTEM FOR THE DIRECT OBSERVATION TECHNIQUE* BY
NORMAN W. HEIMSTRA AND ROGER T. DAVIS
Department of Psychology, University of South Dakota
Systematic direct observation of animal behaviour has been effectively utilized in a variety of naturalistic and experimental situations . Methods of recording the observed behaviour in these situations have ranged from relatively simple behaviour category check lists to elaborate photographic techniques . Each method has certain advantages and disadvantages . With many of the simpler techniques, the data obtained are limited while with the more elaborate systems the expense factor is often formidable . A recording system that is both efficient and inexpensive involves the use of a Stenograph or Stenotype machine . This is a quiet, compact, portable printing machine that is commonly used by court stenographers for taking dictation . A machine of this type can be utilized effectively in several ways as a recording device in behavioural studies . One method for its use in recording social interaction at the human level has been described by Carter, Haythorn, Meirowitz & Lanzetta (1951) . The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of a Stenograph machine for recording behaviour categories simultaneously for paired animals . A Stenograph machine will print a number of letters of the alphabet as well as numbers from 0 to 9 . Unlike a typewriter, one or any number of keys can be depressed together and will record on a paper tape which is 2 . 5 inches wide . The tape is automatically moved ahead one line after a key (or keys) is struck . A key, or combination of keys, is used to represent a given behaviour category for an animal in the pair being observed . When the animal is engaged in that particular category of behaviour, the proper key is depressed at regular intervals . A timing device such as an electric metronome, which will give audible signals at desired intervals can be used to maintain the proper intervals between depressions of the key . In an experimental situation which placed pairs of animals together
in a relatively confined area, it was found that observations could be made and recorded at one second intervals on two animals simultaneously by means of this system . Obviously, working at this speed the observer must be thoroughly familiar with the behavioural categories utilized as well as the keyboard of the machine. As a key is repeatedly depressed, it prints the letter or number in a vertical column on the paper tape . Thus, if the key for the letter H on the machine was depressed 10 times, it would result in 10 Hs in a column on the tape. If another key, for the letter F, had also been depressed simultaneously, then the result would be two vertical columns on the tape-one of Hs and one of Fs . If each of these letters represented a category of behaviour for one of the animals in the pair, and if the keys had been depressed at one second intervals, the resulting columns of 10 Hs and 10 Fs could be translated as representing 10 seconds of a given category of behaviour for each animal . A number of behavioural categories can be utilized, with the number and type of categories dependent upon the particular requirements of the investigation . However, the number of categories that can be used is dependent upon several factors . As in any type of observational study, the most important factor is a clear definition of the type behaviour that will be recorded in any particular category. Other factors to be considered are the time intervals between recordings and the physical situation in which the experiment is conducted . When observations are being made simultaneously on two animals it is necessary that they remain in relatively close physical proximity to one another, and that one of the animals be clearly marked with a stain or dye . The number of behavioural categories used can be increased considerably when observations are being recorded for only one animal . In a study that involved placing a pair of rats together in a 24 x 12 x 12 inch wooden box
*This research was supported in part by a research grant, USPH Grant MY5981 (A) from the National Institutes of Health . 208
HEIMSTRA & DAVIS : THE DIRECT OBSERVATION TECHNIQUE
with observations made on each animal at one second intervals, up to nine categories of behaviour were utilized . In this particular study, two rats, both 22 hours food deprived, were placed in the observation box in which a small food container had been secured . This container was large enough for only one rat to eat from at a time . The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of various drugs on the behaviour of the rats in this type of situation . The nine behavioural categories used in this study are given below . General activity (Category A)-this category included any form of ambulatory activity on the part of an animal which did not involve contact with another animal, eating, or control of the food container. Eating or food control (Category B)-this category was recorded when an animal was eating or was clearly in control of the food . Social behaviour (Category C)-any behaviour which involved the other animal but was not fighting or attempts at gaining control of the food . Fighting (Category D)-this category was recorded only when the animals were clearly engaged in fighting. Other forms of aggressive behaviour such as vigorous nosing, shoving, blocking, etc ., which were not attempts at gaining control of the food, were recorded under the category of social behaviour . Displacement attempts (Categories E and F)-
when an animal succeeded in forcing the other animal from the food source it was recorded as a displacement (E) . When an animal made an unsuccessful attempt it was recorded as a displacement failure (F) . These attempts-both successful and unsuccessful-were generally abrupt events although in a few cases they involved a number of seconds . Defensive behaviour (Category G)-this category was recorded when an animal was in the classical defensive posture which is characterized by sitting up on the hind legs with the forefeet extended . Co-operations (Category H)-this involved a situation where both animals remained at the food container but "took turns" at eating and made no attempts at forcing each other from the food . Inactivity (Category I)-recorded when an animal remained immobile but was not in a
209
defensive posture or was not in contact with the other animal of the pair. Fig. 1 shows a copy of a typical segment of Stenograph tape on which several of the above behaviour categories have been recorded . This particular section of tape has been "scored" and the duration of each category of behaviour marked. Thus, at the start of the observations shown on the tape, animal 1 engaged in three seconds of category A (general activity), shifted
ANIMAL I 3 SECONDS CATEGORY A
ANIMAL 2 • • •
F F
8 SECONDS CATEGORY A
F
• • •
3 SECONDS CATEGORY B
F F F I CATEGORY
E S
8 SECONDS CATEGORY A
T T T T T
• • • • S S S
3 SECONDS CATEGORY A 2 SECONDS CATEGORY C I CATEGORY F 4 SECONDS CATEGORY B
5 SECONDS CATEGORY S
F F
3 SECONDS CATEGORY A
•
3 SECONDS CATEGORY D
E
0 D
3 SECONDS CATEGORY D 2 SECONDS CATEGORY A
S S S
T T T T TI
P
1P A
• • H
L Lt
•
L
5 SECONDS CATEGORY B
3 SECONDS CATEGORY C
Fig. 1 .
to category B (eating or food control) for three seconds, was displaced by animal 2 from the food source, again engaged in category A (general activity for eight seconds, fought with Animal 2 for three seconds (category D), etc . These categories are not included to suggest that they are appropriate categories for use in other type of studies . As a matter of fact, several of these categories could have been deleted from the study mentioned with the loss of very little data . However, the reliability of observations made with these categories was quite high. Co-observers, utilizing the above categories and making recordings on identical machines observed a number of pairs of animals during five minute trials . A one second interval between observations was utilized . Productmoment correlations were computed between
21 0
ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR, X, 3-4
the duration scores recorded for each category of behaviour by the two observers . The lowest correlation obtained was +-94 in the general activity behaviour category . The co-observer in this case, had approximately four hours of experience with the system prior to the reliability study. The categories described were broad enough to encompass nearly all the behaviour demonstrated by the animals during a trial . It is felt that categories of this type have certain advantages-at least in initial investigations . Obviously, most of the categories used could be further analysed in terms of very specific behavioural components . However, it was found that the reliability of observing is increased by fixed interval recording and automatic pacing . This is not feasible when the observer periodically records a behaviour component but does not record in the intervals between occurrences of the behaviour. Essentially, the observer has two decisions to make . He must decide whether the behaviour demonstrated belongs in a particular behavioural category and when the behaviour
commences or ends . The second decision appears to be considerably easier to make when the recording is continuous or paced rather than when only selected behaviour occurs . The data recorded on the tape can be analyzed in a variety of ways . Three methods that have been used involve (1) an analysis of the total time spent during a trial or series of trials in a given category of behaviour, (2) an analysis of the number of times a given category of behaviour occurred, and (3) an analysis of behavioural shifts in terms of the total number of such shifts and in terms of the probability of one type behaviour following another type . Each of these, i .e . duration scores, frequency scores, or behavioural shifts, can be utilized as dependent variables in a wide variety of behavioural studies . REFERENCE Carter, L ., Haythorn, W ., Meirowitz, B . & Lanzetta, J . (1951) . A note on a new technique of interaction recording . J. abnorm . soc . Psycho!., 46, 258-260 . Accepted for publication 8th March, 1962 .
NORMAN W. HEIMSTRA AND ROGER T. DAVIS
Department of Psychology, University of South Dakota
Systematic direct observation of animal behaviour has been effectively utilized in a variety of naturalistic and experimental situations . Methods of recording the observed behaviour in these situations have ranged from relatively simple behaviour category check lists to elaborate photographic techniques . Each method has certain advantages and disadvantages . With many of the simpler techniques, the data obtained are limited while with the more elaborate systems the expense factor is often formidable . A recording system that is both efficient and inexpensive involves the use of a Stenograph or Stenotype machine . This is a quiet, compact, portable printing machine that is commonly used by court stenographers for taking dictation . A machine of this type can be utilized effectively in several ways as a recording device in behavioural studies . One method for its use in recording social interaction at the human level has been described by Carter, Haythorn, Meirowitz & Lanzetta (1951) . The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of a Stenograph machine for recording behaviour categories simultaneously for paired animals . A Stenograph machine will print a number of letters of the alphabet as well as numbers from 0 to 9 . Unlike a typewriter, one or any number of keys can be depressed together and will record on a paper tape which is 2 . 5 inches wide . The tape is automatically moved ahead one line after a key (or keys) is struck . A key, or combination of keys, is used to represent a given behaviour category for an animal in the pair being observed . When the animal is engaged in that particular category of behaviour, the proper key is depressed at regular intervals . A timing device such as an electric metronome, which will give audible signals at desired intervals can be used to maintain the proper intervals between depressions of the key . In an experimental situation which placed pairs of animals together
in a relatively confined area, it was found that observations could be made and recorded at one second intervals on two animals simultaneously by means of this system . Obviously, working at this speed the observer must be thoroughly familiar with the behavioural categories utilized as well as the keyboard of the machine. As a key is repeatedly depressed, it prints the letter or number in a vertical column on the paper tape . Thus, if the key for the letter H on the machine was depressed 10 times, it would result in 10 Hs in a column on the tape. If another key, for the letter F, had also been depressed simultaneously, then the result would be two vertical columns on the tape-one of Hs and one of Fs . If each of these letters represented a category of behaviour for one of the animals in the pair, and if the keys had been depressed at one second intervals, the resulting columns of 10 Hs and 10 Fs could be translated as representing 10 seconds of a given category of behaviour for each animal . A number of behavioural categories can be utilized, with the number and type of categories dependent upon the particular requirements of the investigation . However, the number of categories that can be used is dependent upon several factors . As in any type of observational study, the most important factor is a clear definition of the type behaviour that will be recorded in any particular category. Other factors to be considered are the time intervals between recordings and the physical situation in which the experiment is conducted . When observations are being made simultaneously on two animals it is necessary that they remain in relatively close physical proximity to one another, and that one of the animals be clearly marked with a stain or dye . The number of behavioural categories used can be increased considerably when observations are being recorded for only one animal . In a study that involved placing a pair of rats together in a 24 x 12 x 12 inch wooden box
*This research was supported in part by a research grant, USPH Grant MY5981 (A) from the National Institutes of Health . 208
HEIMSTRA & DAVIS : THE DIRECT OBSERVATION TECHNIQUE
with observations made on each animal at one second intervals, up to nine categories of behaviour were utilized . In this particular study, two rats, both 22 hours food deprived, were placed in the observation box in which a small food container had been secured . This container was large enough for only one rat to eat from at a time . The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of various drugs on the behaviour of the rats in this type of situation . The nine behavioural categories used in this study are given below . General activity (Category A)-this category included any form of ambulatory activity on the part of an animal which did not involve contact with another animal, eating, or control of the food container. Eating or food control (Category B)-this category was recorded when an animal was eating or was clearly in control of the food . Social behaviour (Category C)-any behaviour which involved the other animal but was not fighting or attempts at gaining control of the food . Fighting (Category D)-this category was recorded only when the animals were clearly engaged in fighting. Other forms of aggressive behaviour such as vigorous nosing, shoving, blocking, etc ., which were not attempts at gaining control of the food, were recorded under the category of social behaviour . Displacement attempts (Categories E and F)-
when an animal succeeded in forcing the other animal from the food source it was recorded as a displacement (E) . When an animal made an unsuccessful attempt it was recorded as a displacement failure (F) . These attempts-both successful and unsuccessful-were generally abrupt events although in a few cases they involved a number of seconds . Defensive behaviour (Category G)-this category was recorded when an animal was in the classical defensive posture which is characterized by sitting up on the hind legs with the forefeet extended . Co-operations (Category H)-this involved a situation where both animals remained at the food container but "took turns" at eating and made no attempts at forcing each other from the food . Inactivity (Category I)-recorded when an animal remained immobile but was not in a
209
defensive posture or was not in contact with the other animal of the pair. Fig. 1 shows a copy of a typical segment of Stenograph tape on which several of the above behaviour categories have been recorded . This particular section of tape has been "scored" and the duration of each category of behaviour marked. Thus, at the start of the observations shown on the tape, animal 1 engaged in three seconds of category A (general activity), shifted
ANIMAL I 3 SECONDS CATEGORY A
ANIMAL 2 • • •
F F
8 SECONDS CATEGORY A
F
• • •
3 SECONDS CATEGORY B
F F F I CATEGORY
E S
8 SECONDS CATEGORY A
T T T T T
• • • • S S S
3 SECONDS CATEGORY A 2 SECONDS CATEGORY C I CATEGORY F 4 SECONDS CATEGORY B
5 SECONDS CATEGORY S
F F
3 SECONDS CATEGORY A
•
3 SECONDS CATEGORY D
E
0 D
3 SECONDS CATEGORY D 2 SECONDS CATEGORY A
S S S
T T T T TI
P
1P A
• • H
L Lt
•
L
5 SECONDS CATEGORY B
3 SECONDS CATEGORY C
Fig. 1 .
to category B (eating or food control) for three seconds, was displaced by animal 2 from the food source, again engaged in category A (general activity for eight seconds, fought with Animal 2 for three seconds (category D), etc . These categories are not included to suggest that they are appropriate categories for use in other type of studies . As a matter of fact, several of these categories could have been deleted from the study mentioned with the loss of very little data . However, the reliability of observations made with these categories was quite high. Co-observers, utilizing the above categories and making recordings on identical machines observed a number of pairs of animals during five minute trials . A one second interval between observations was utilized . Productmoment correlations were computed between
21 0
ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR, X, 3-4
the duration scores recorded for each category of behaviour by the two observers . The lowest correlation obtained was +-94 in the general activity behaviour category . The co-observer in this case, had approximately four hours of experience with the system prior to the reliability study. The categories described were broad enough to encompass nearly all the behaviour demonstrated by the animals during a trial . It is felt that categories of this type have certain advantages-at least in initial investigations . Obviously, most of the categories used could be further analysed in terms of very specific behavioural components . However, it was found that the reliability of observing is increased by fixed interval recording and automatic pacing . This is not feasible when the observer periodically records a behaviour component but does not record in the intervals between occurrences of the behaviour. Essentially, the observer has two decisions to make . He must decide whether the behaviour demonstrated belongs in a particular behavioural category and when the behaviour
commences or ends . The second decision appears to be considerably easier to make when the recording is continuous or paced rather than when only selected behaviour occurs . The data recorded on the tape can be analyzed in a variety of ways . Three methods that have been used involve (1) an analysis of the total time spent during a trial or series of trials in a given category of behaviour, (2) an analysis of the number of times a given category of behaviour occurred, and (3) an analysis of behavioural shifts in terms of the total number of such shifts and in terms of the probability of one type behaviour following another type . Each of these, i .e . duration scores, frequency scores, or behavioural shifts, can be utilized as dependent variables in a wide variety of behavioural studies . REFERENCE Carter, L ., Haythorn, W ., Meirowitz, B . & Lanzetta, J . (1951) . A note on a new technique of interaction recording . J. abnorm . soc . Psycho!., 46, 258-260 . Accepted for publication 8th March, 1962 .